Linux...

[Freddy]

Hi.

I've been wanting to install linux, but wanted some questions answered b4 proceeding 2 do so. First off, is linux worth it (I love scripting, programming, etc)? Compatibility is a bit of an issue for me, but not as much as scripting and programming. Also, How compatible is Linux with the average downloaded program? If it isn't compatible, can't u just script it in a way to make it compatible with linux ??? Is Linux the best unix to have? If so, is redhat the best linux to have? If so, is redhat 9 the latest version out for redhat and is the best version of redhat to have? When I have Linux, I will still be able to use visual basic, c++, Borland JBuilder, J++, notepad my html editor, script, etc? Wut would Linux be rated as on a scale of 1 to 10 overall? Wut would it be rated as on a scale of 1 to 10 as a NOS (Network(ing) Operating System)? Is Unreal Tournament 2003, Half Life, Unreal Tournament, MIRC, Trillian, AOL Instant Messenger, IsoBuster, Direct Connect, DC++, DC Hub, and Kazaa Lite all compatible with Linux?

I'd be very appreciative of responses to my questions, for I am desperate to install it, since I have Linux RedHat 9 at my grasp. Or is there another Linux or Unix better? Let me know...

-Freddy

[cyberskye]

You need to lay off the coffee

A lot of your questions can only be answered with opinions. If you want to learn something new then Linux is a good one to pick.

Based on your questions, I'd suggest RedHat.

Most of your games and all of those compilers will be a problem - Linuces have their own. You can always dual-boot windows and linux.

[Stu]

I disagree with using Red Hat, unless you are fond of filling out surveys once a month.

Red Hat has this up2date service, kinda like the windows update thing, and up until about 4 months ago you could sign-up for their "Basic" service account--which let you download updates when they are not experiencing high server loads--this cost you nothing. They also had these "premium" accounts you could buy that gave you "priority" download service--that guaranteed you could download anything you want, whenever you want, regardless of the traffic on the servers. Now, they got rid of the "Basic" service and replaced it with the "Demo" service--converting all the existing "Basic" accounts to "Demo" accounts, out of the blue (you just got an expiration e-mail, and that was that). The "Demo" service is a royal pain in the butt. Once a month, your account "expires", to continue the service you need to fill out an online survey (which changes from month to month, so you can't automate the process with a perl script). Thus, making Red Hat the "Microsoft" of Linux.

I'd suggest going with Mandrake instead, as it is based on Red Hat and is just as easy for a newbie.

[Scott]

Thus, making Red Hat the "Microsoft" of Linux.

Haha, that's what I thought a few years ago when I got into using Linux. Seemed that Red Hat wanted to dumb down the user just like Microsoft.

[Roody]

Suse Linux is a good one. There is definitely IMO easier Linux programs then others. I am still a bit of a linux newbie and found RedHat to be a little more complicated then some of the others. Unless you want a professional version of a particular Linux you can buy a copy for about $30 or just download one from their site.

[Shinobi]

I've used Mandrake Linux for a long time. I belieive it's the easiest distro out there.
Linux is a really great Operating System.
The only thing you really have to remember is. it is not Windoz!
After you pick a Distro, you will spend a lot of time trying to figure out things. Just don't give up.

[Freddy]

Thanx alot peeps. Sry for not saying "Thanx" earlier; its just that I was having boot problems, OS problems, etc... when I proceedin 2 go on my dual-boot (Linux/Windows XP) venture, but all turn out well . Thx again every 1.

-Fred